Fixture

On a lovely Autumn afternoon both sides provided an entertaining game with a good degree of skills. The difference between the two sides was the skill of the kicker. Josh White for Porthcawl made all the difference. A fine fly half and kicker. From the start both sides looked to spread the ball. Initially the Sports produced good attacking options from both wingers, Jack Evans and Jamie Williams but were denied by a stalwart home side defence. After 15 minutes Portcawl spread the ball from quick lineout ball and outstrip the Sports cover allowing winger Curtis Kerton to score in the corner for a good try. Josh White cannot add the points.

Getting field position dominates the next phases of play with Josh White kicking well for Porthcawl and Ryan Russell doing the same for the visitors.Then in almost a carbon copy of the first try, Porthcawl extend their lead as centre Gareth Rees carves through the defence for a try that Josh Thomas easily converts. The Sports seem to be making more errors and when the give away a penalty under the posts, Thomas again adds the points and Porthcawl look as if they are cruising to an easy victory after 25 minutes. When the Sports eventually get some possession they widen the ball to the right wing Williams, he gets stopped short but good hands by the Spors threes gets the ball to Jack Evans to score wide out for an unconverted try. Now the Sports get back on the offensive and Darren Lewis at scrum half spins he ball to centre Ken Morris who shows his experience with a neat off-load to his fellow centre Nathan Collins whose running line is too good for the home defence and her scores a fine try for Darren Lewis to convert and reduce the lead to 15-12 and it is now ‘game on’. But on the stroke of half time the Sports allow Josh White to extend the lead to 18-12. The second half is all Sports Club for a full 15 minutes and in their only excursion into the Spots 22, Porthcawl are gifted a penalty and ‘Man of the match White duly adds the points and Porthcawl look as if they are creeping away with the game although it at this stage was completely against the run of play.

Looking for field position once more Porthcawl kick deep and from his own 22 Ryan Russell runs well and is supported by Dan James and he by Cory Thomas who runs from halfway to score in the corner. A fantastic try from the openside. The kick from Darren Lewis is poor and the difference between the two sided is starting to look like the kicking performance of the respective kickers. Now the Sports have their tails up and when from a five metre scrum sub, Gareth Bartlett carries the ball well and feeds full back Ryan Russell to score halfway out the Sports take the lead for the first time with 15 minutes left. Not only does this give the Sports a bonus point but Darren Lewis adds the points with fine difficult kick and the Sports lead 21-24.

This wakes up the Porthcawl team who thought they had the game won and they drive well into the right corner of the field and quick recycling allows Josh White to quickly slip the ball to centre Gareth Rees to score under the posts for a converted try and the home sid re-take the lead 27-24. Now the Sports open the ball from every opportunity but are still making errors and allow another White penalty and drop to 31-24. With minutes left the Sports close the lead to 27 -31 with the view to get a winning try. They look dangerous from every play but run out of time and although outscoring Portcawl 4 tries to three have to settle for two points as the homeside deservedly take four.

A very entertaining game played in great spirit by both side. Next week the Sports are home in the ‘Bowl’ to Cwmgwrach for a 1.30 Kick off.